Kerry: NKorean rhetoric 'unacceptable'

By MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

Posted:
04/02/2013 03:20:07 PM MDT

Updated:
04/02/2013 03:20:08 PM MDT

WASHINGTON—Secretary of State John Kerry says recent belligerent rhetoric from North Korea is "unacceptable" and that the United States will defend itself as well as South Korea and Japan from any threat from the North.

Speaking Tuesday at a news conference with the visiting foreign minister of South Korea, Kerry told reporters that the amount of hostile language from North Korea in recent weeks was "extraordinary" and that the isolated state should have no doubt that the U.S. will fulfill its treaty obligations to allies in the region.

His comments came after North Korea said it would quickly begin "readjusting and restarting" the facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex, including the plutonium reactor and a uranium enrichment plant. Both could produce fuel for nuclear weapons.